I’ve tried three times in my life to be a vegetarian. The longest I ever made it without eating meat was about 9 months. One day, I just couldn’t take it anymore. I went to a local burger joint and scarfed a giant cheeseburger. It was so good, and though I felt quite guilty, I […]

When my son was 4 years old and in preschool, he was sent to the principal’s office a few times. Part of me was confused that a toddler could even be sent to the principal’s office, but another part of me was really, really worried. As an educator, I knew that, sometimes, children can be […]

Just this week, a new report was released from the CDC stating that salmonella cases from chicken kissing and snuggling, as well as from chickens living in our homes, is on the rise. It’s a reality that people love chickens, and I know why. I love our girls. They’re funny, ornery, sweet, full of personality, […]

If you remember way back to the beginning of the summer, I was doing some major planting in our garden. Because my husband was building a giant fence for our chicky girls, a lot of the planting fell to me and my teenage son, who is not nearly so outdoorsy as the rest of the […]

Last year, I quit my full-time job to become a homeschooling mom, and it has been a rewarding experience so far. I was a teacher for nearly 20 years, and, now, I get to teach my most favorite student ever. It has also given me an opportunity to remember that parents are the most important […]

Crystal Sands

I am a former academic and award winning writing teacher turned hobby farmer/homeschooling mom/freelancer.
In 2015, after too many years of working too many hours, I decided to change my life. This blog shares my stories related to making the change and simplifying my life–a process that began when we finally got our first chickens.
In this blog, I will share my experiences learning how to hobby farm on a small place in Maine, become more self-sufficient, live frugally, live peacefully, and have more time for love.
I hope you will join me on this journey by following my blog and following me on Twitter @CrystalDSands.